Aero part for vehicle having virtual engine sound output function

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016311368-A1
Application number	US-201514872955-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 1, 2015
Priority date	Apr 22, 2015
Publication date	Oct 27, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An aero part for vehicles, which is mounted in a vehicle and has a virtual engine sound output function may include a reed vibration sound generator disposed in an inner space of the aero part to generate sound as a reed vibrates by an air stream introduced into the inner space of the aero part through a vent hole during vehicle traveling.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An aero part for vehicles, which is mounted in a vehicle and has a virtual engine sound output function, comprising:
a reed vibration sound generator disposed in an inner space of the aero part to generate sound as a reed vibrates by an air stream introduced into the inner space of the aero part through a vent hole during vehicle traveling.

2 . The aero part of claim 1 , wherein the aero part for vehicles includes a spoiler disposed on an outer surface of a vehicle body, the sound generator being installed in an inner space of the spoiler.

3 . The aero part of claim 2 , wherein the aero part for vehicles comprises an air dam mounted to a bottom of a front end of the vehicle, the sound generator being installed in an inner space of the air dam.

4 . The aero part of claim 1 , wherein the sound generator includes:
a case fixedly disposed in the inner space of the aero part to permit introduction of air thereinto; the reed disposed inside the case and configured to vibrate by an air stream passing through an inside of the case to implement sound generation; and a resonant cylinder disposed inside the case and configured to reinforce vibration of the reed to implement external sound output by resonance.

5 . The aero part of claim 1 , wherein the sound generator is connected to an air feeder of the vehicle, and vibration of the reed and sound generation are implemented by a vehicle-induced air stream introduced through the vent hole during vehicle traveling and air stream supplied by the air feeder.

6 . The aero part of claim 5 , wherein the sound generator includes:
a first inlet in communication with the vent hole for introduction of the vehicle-induced air stream; a second inlet for introduction of the air stream supplied by the air feeder; and an opening/closing device configured to selectively open or close a flow path of the second inlet.

7 . The aero part of claim 6 , wherein the opening/closing device includes:
a door configured to selectively open or close a flow path of the second inlet; and an actuator configured to vary a position of the door so as to open or close the flow path of the second inlet by rotating the door, wherein a controller is set to selectively open or close the flow path of the second inlet by controlling driving of the actuator based on a vehicle speed.

8 . The aero part of claim 7 , wherein the controller is set to control driving of the actuator to close the flow path of the second inlet when the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a set reference speed and to control driving of the actuator to open the flow path of the second inlet when the vehicle speed is below the reference speed.

9 . The aero part of claim 5 , wherein the air feeder comprises a cooling fan configured to cool parts of the vehicle, or a blowing fan and an air compressor configured to supply air to the parts of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Chan Hee

Classifications

• B62D35/005

  Front spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60H1/00564

  of air ducts · CPC title

• B60Q5/008 Primary

  for signaling silent vehicles, e.g. for warning that a hybrid or electric vehicle is approaching · CPC title

• G10K15/04

  Sound-producing devices (G10K15/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y02T10/82

  Elements for improving aerodynamics · CPC title